Comparison of CEF (C: cyclophosphamide, E: epirubicin, and 5FU) and EC (E: epirubicin and C: cyclophosphamide) therapy in neoadjuvant setting for axillary lymph node metastasis-positive breast cancer

e12520Background: It is not clear which anthracycline regimen for breast cancer is most effective in the neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We compared CEF therapy with EC therapy in neoadjuvant setting for axillary lymph nodes metastasis-positive breast cancer in our hospital in order to examine which anthracycline regimen is more effective. Methods: We treated 221 cases (cT1-4 N1-3 M0) of breast cancers, performed operation after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (anthracycline and taxanes) in May 2003 to July 2014. The average observation period was 5.5 years. We separated 2 groups, CEF and EC. CEF group were patients performed CEF therapy (C: 500mg/m², E: 100mg/m², 5FU: 500mg/m² every 3 weeks intravenous drip) followed by taxanes. EC group were patients performed EC therapy (E: epirubicin 90mg/m², C: cyclophosphamide 600mg/m² every 3 weeks intravenous drip) followed by taxanes. Some patients received zoledronic acid or denosumab in clinical trials. We examined the percentage of pCR (pathological complete response), the...